Dirigible balloon.



W. CULVEB.

DIRIGIBLE BALLON.

APPucATloN man JULY 1s. |911.

Patented Aug. 20, 191s.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I W. CULVER.

DIRlGIBLE BALLOON.

APPLlclmou msn 1uLY 1s. 1911.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mmm

gnvcwfoz I @Houma W. CULVER. DmlsmLE BALL'ooN.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18.1917.

Bami-,ed Aug. 20, 191s.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR ATTORN EY WILLIAM CULVER, 0F SIOUX CITY, IOWA, ASSIG-NOR OF OE-HALF T0 WENCEL H.

' KIRCHMAN, 0F WAHOO, NEBRASKA.

DIRIGIBLE BALLOON.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 20, 11918.

Application led July 18, 1917. Serial No. 181,271.

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CULvER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sioux City, in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dirigible Balloons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in aerial travel or navigation, generally, more especially balloons of the dirigible type, or similar contrivances.

The invention has for its object, primarily, to provide for using the exhaust, particularly, from `gasolene-engines for effecting the raising of the dirigible or b-alloon, with the ultimate end in view of rendering aerial navigation o-r travel with perfect safety.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the further disclosure thereof.

The invention consists of certain instrumentalities and features of construction substantially as hereinafter fully disclosed by the description and illustration in connection with the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention wherein it will be understood that various changes or modifications may be made as to the details of construction and arrangement of the parts, and in which drawing- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved aerial travel or navigation device, the dirigibley or balloon being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a'central vertical transverse section of the same.

Fig. 3 is an inverted view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental perspective view of the device showing more particularly the swinging wings or planes and their actuating pitman, upon an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the dirigible with adjustive parts shown fragmentally.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental and partly sectional and partly perspective view of the same. 4

In carrying out my invention I provide for carrying the usual platform 1opposed 'preferably arcuate frames 2 suitably secured to the platform and also having positioned therebetween the dirigib-le container or bag 3. The latter has secured therein staggeredly arranged battles 4 for ably guarded by guide or trundle-rolls 8,

taking part of the weight off the latter.

Suitably supported or suspended from the platform-supporting frame members 2, by means of Suspenders 9, is a gasolene engine 10, of ordinary or approved type and, from the gasolene engine, leads an exhaust pipe 1l,`ha.ving valved pipe-connection, as at 12, with the intake pipe 5 of the dirigible or b. g 3, for delivering the exhaust through said pipes 5, l1 into said bag or dirigible for suitbly ini'lating the latter, the valve 12 providing for enabling the operator to regulate the amount of gas or lexhaust Ait may be desired to supply to said bag or dirigible aS circumstances may call for.

Interiorly of the dirigible or balloon is applied a wire screening or fabric 12a which is laced to the inside of the hoops, and inside of this wire fabric or screen` ing is applied preferably, by gluing, a gasproof fabric 12b, and upon the outside of the hoops is laced a weather proof fabric 12C, this arrangement or structure providing a much cheaper covering than that now in general use while equally durable.

The gasolene engine is provided with pluralities of swinging wings or planes 13, 14, suitably pivoted in position and whose actuating crank-shafts are connected by pitmen 16 thereto for imparting the requisite swinging or reciprocating motion to said wings or planes, as in effecting the aerial propulsion or travel of the machine, said crank-shafts being, of course, driven in the usual way, from the machine or engine 10. The engine or machine, in practice, is operated in connection, preferably, with twin cylinders, such as are used in a motor-cycle, with a self starter attached thereto. The engine, it will be understood does not, as has been disclosed, run or operate ordinary propeller-wheels, but operates prepelling ci swinging Winge oi planes, 13, le, which are preyieled. Wien hinged floors ci' Valyee self-opening upon 'ehe ieturn stecke cf said planes, letting ain 'bhereclieugli and lessening resistance, but which valves close, practically ccnyening ehe planes into solid piece, upon the cui:- Warl sti'oke, respectively, ancl Tvice-yensa.

yalyecl pipe connection l? between 'the bag ci elii'igible 3 and `elle engine l@ is provided 'te exhaust the engine-ennemi inem eaicl bag 0i" diiigilole, as when the waived eonnection 12 is closed and it be elcsil'e :e Windiaw 'the exhaust freni eaiel 'bag ci1 elifgible.

it will be uncleistocd thai; le two eeiies ef swinging planes er wings aie adaptee *io enelc a pulling and a. pushing; action, respectively in the prcpnleien ci ''ne niachine eij engine, whereby 'the load is evenly dieti'ieued upon elle engine at all 'Linien is also observed @hat the lateial planes ci" Wings will be similar to `these of ak ccnven 'tional type ci? air-planes ancl pncvicle foi' gliding er guiding the machine up and down, while ille freni, and bacl; Wings or planes, sncli also being,` provided as at 18a, provides for Sseeiing the machine icin eide "ne eide ci' laterally, the engine ci machine inne being nelcl unclei peniiect ccntiol as againsl aceielene oi eaenalnye y a a By euieably manipulating the valves el the bag-tube ef lane balloon angl ef elle ennanst, elle gas will be admitted te said bag.

,When it may lce cleeifefl to exhaust lll@ 35 oi eleiate the bag all that is iequined is to Stop the engine and heleen lootn Valves. l it be clesii'ed no rise only a certain distance, bei; no keep going ahead., the bag-eontrclling valve is closed and the exhaust expelled into the ain,

l claim- A device ci@ the ibype described, including an engine ci 'the clase indica'ecl, in combinaeien i 'tli a eliiigible balloon en bag, Said having ige intake tube, and eaid engine having ille exil-ansi; pige in yaly'eii ecmniunicariion, e gas exhausting pipe ier Said bag, having ccnnection with said valve conticlleel engine exhaust-pipe and bagezzliaus'-inalie Qipe, and propelling nieans foi said balloon or bag eli'iven ncin Saicl engine, said bag-gas-exhausting pipe adapted to be opei'aeive when ene said bag gasintake pige is ont ci yalveel communication with said bag.

ln *eeetiniony whereof l ax my signature in tile presence ci two Witnesses.

LLAM CULV 

